Toksokaroz - what is it? Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Disease

Toxocarosis is a fairly common parasitic disease. And according to statistics, children are the most susceptible to this disease. That is why many parents are interested in questions about why there is toxocarosis, what it is and what are its main symptoms. After all, some forms of the disease can lead to very dangerous complications and even lesions of the nervous system.

Toksokaroz: what is it and what are its causes?

The causative agent of the disease is a toxocara parasite - a representative of helminths, which in appearance resembles a human ascarid. To date, two types of worms of this group have been studied, which parasitize on representatives of the family of dogs and felines.

Animals excrete eggs of parasites along with feces. It is worth noting that in most cases, infection occurs precisely during contact with dogs and cats. But to pick up the pathogen from a sick person is impossible, because his body is not a typical habitat for this species of worms - they can not reach puberty.

The risk group is mainly children, because they mostly ignore the rules of hygiene, do not wash their hands after playing in the yard or contacting animals. Sometimes infection occurs through mother's milk.

Toxocarosis: what is it and what are its symptoms

The clinical picture depends on the human immune system, the number of parasites, as well as the form of the disease:

• For example, with skin toxocariosis, allergic reactions are observed, in particular, redness, itching, swelling of the tissues, appearance of a specimen, etc.
• If a large number of parasites accumulate in the body, they can damage the internal organs - in this case it is a visceral form of the disease. This condition can be accompanied by various symptoms, in particular fever, enlargement of the liver and lymph nodes. Some patients complain of severe abdominal pain, indigestion, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea. If the larvae hit the respiratory system, then shortness of breath, coughing and other irregularities appear.
• Sometimes parasites affect the human eye, which is accompanied by keratitis, inflammation of the optic nerve, abscess of the vitreous body and other damages.
• There is also a so-called neurotic toxocarosis. What it is? A similar pathology develops if the parasites get into the human nervous system. There are problems with concentration of attention, hyperactivity, as well as convulsive attacks, partial paresis.

Toxocarosis: diagnosis and treatment

Of course, with such symptoms it is necessary to consult a doctor. As a rule, fecal and blood tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Toxocarosis is characterized by an increase in ESR, leukocytosis and eosinophilia.

There is an opinion that there is no need to treat such a disease, because parasites are unable to reproduce in the human body, and consequently, sooner or later they will disappear anyway. Yes, in the end, the body will purify itself from worms, but during this time helminths will be able to cause serious damage to health. For example, damage to the nervous system can no longer be reversed.

So how to cure toxocariasis? In most cases, it will be enough to take anthelminthic drugs, such as Medamin and Tiabendazole. If the larvae are struck by the eyes, then small doses of the drug "Depo-Medrol" are injected under the conjunctiva. If the body contains foci of large accumulation of parasites, it is possible to remove them surgically.